The Rolling Stones (Finally) Announce Four Shows in 2012

Back in August, “unnamed executives” claimed that the Rolling Stones would play two shows at Brooklyn’s new arena, Barclays Center, this November, in addition to two shows at London’s O2 Arena in December. Now, the Stones have set the record straight: They’ll play two shows at hometown arena the O2 (November 25 and 29) and another two shows at Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center (December 13 and 15).

The band, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, announced the four shows this morning on its official website. Watch below, as the Stones tease the shows in a clip they filmed while recording in Paris last month.

“Surely you didn’t think we weren’t going to do this,” the band jokes in the video. They also add that a few friends may be stopping by the shows.

The Stones have not played live since 2007’s tour behind A Bigger Bang, so no surprise, the demand for tickets will be quite high and the prices even higher. The general on-sale for the London shows starts October 19, while the Jersey on-sale starts October 26. Full on-sale and pre-sale (which starts today for London) information is available here.

Keith Richards told Rolling Stone earlier this year that the Stones simply weren’t ready to embark on a big 50th anniversary tour in 2012, so perhaps these four shows are just the warm-up gigs for a bigger run next year.

Following months of hearsay, the Stones are full of announcements in the last few weeks. Last Thursday marked the premiere of new single “Doom and Gloom,” a political rocker with teeth. The song is one of two new tracks featured on the Stones’ upcoming greatest hits compilation, GRRR!, out November 14. Watch the lyric video for “Doom and Gloom” below.

Additionally, the Stones’ new documentary, Crossfire Hurricane, debuts stateside November 15 on HBO.